Writing about writing

Posts tagged ‘Al Van Der Beek’

So yeah. I “won” NaNoWriMo this year, 2014!!! Yahoo!!!! It really isn’t anything I can honestly brag about though because not a single word is ever going to see the light of day as far as publishing is concerned! It honestly is a bunch of C.R.A.P. But I did it.

It’s all about the Words. It’s all about the Words. No Struggle! (See what I did there? Thanks, Meghan Trainor for such a great song to continue to Parody! Haha!)

Anyway, I honestly have no idea how I was able to get 50,000 words written in less than thirty days considering how very busy I have been this fall, not just this November. But here it is, a full three days (or is it four?) before the end of the month and I have them. Wow. All I can say is that this writer honestly loves to write. There is no other way I could have (should have) been able to get 50,000 thousand words in 26 days.

Several years ago, I had a conversation with a close friend about how in the world I was able to read so many books when I was so busy. She said that she just did not have time to read, and that as a result, it had been years since she had read a whole book. I, on the other hand, read all the time and have consistently, for many years, read more than 50 books in a any given year. I have thought an awful lot about that conversation because, to me, it makes absolutely no sense that people just don’t read.

I have come to the realization–the conclusion–that we do what we really want to do. We will make time for the things we love, regardless of how busy we are. That goes for anything we might DO as well as for spending time with those we love. If we want to bad enough, if we really love it–enjoy it with our whole being (as I do when it comes to reading–and writing), then we will find a way to make time for it and we will DO IT.

If you don’t like to read, let alone love it (as I do), you wont’ do it. If you don’t love to write (as I do), you probably won’t win NaNo. Or if you do, it will be sheer determination that drives you to succeed. I don’t care if I ever get published or not. That is not why I do NaNo every year. Would I accept a contract with a publishing company if one were to cross my desk?! You bet your bippy I would! Of course I would! But I don’t do it for the fame, fortune, and glory.

I do it because I honestly and truly LOVE TO WRITE. I would write a lot regardless of whether or not I participate in NaNo. I would read regardless of whether or not anyone else did. I would teach to a chair if I had to. I will spend time with my loved ones regardless of whether or not they want to spend time with me. (Thankfully, they seem to want to spend time with me, too! Whew!)

Why?

Because those are things I LOVE doing….with a Passion. They fill me with JOY deep in my soul. And that makes all the difference in the world.

The Piano Guys are one of my new favorite groups not just because their music is incredible, but mostly because of the pure JOY on their faces as they are playing. As I watch John play the piano and Steve play that cello, I am in awe of the smiles spread wide across their faces. They so obviously LOVE playing. It makes my enjoyment of their music that much greater. I could listen to and watch those guys play all day long because their enjoyment exudes from them.

It is my sincerest hope and prayer that YOU find what you LOVE with a passion and DO IT. It doesn’t have to be writing. It just has to be something you LOVE.

In the long run, it doesn’t matter whether you win at NaNo or not (get to 50,000 words in 30 days). What matters is that you DO what you LOVE to do!!!!!